sedonaman:
Perhaps it might be helpful for me to quote the confessions, becasue regardless of what New Advent says, or I say, or even Luther say, the Lutheran Confessions are the basis of Lutheran doctrine.
- We believe, teach, and confess that the sole rule and standard according to which all dogmas together with [all] teachers should be estimated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament alone, as it is written Ps. 119:105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. And St. Paul: Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed, Gal. 1:8.
Here it speaks clearly of dogmas, teachers, etc. Additionally, it says nothing of individual interpretation. In terms of doctrine, if I claim to be Lutheran, I cannot, on my own, interpret scripture in a way that contradicts Lutheran doctrine.
2] Other writings, however, of ancient or modern teachers, whatever name they bear, must not be regarded as equal to the Holy Scriptures, but all of them together be subjected to them, and should not be received otherwise or further than as witnesses, [which are to show] in what manner after the time of the apostles, and at what places, this [pure] doctrine of the prophets and apostles was preserved.
No exclusion of the ECF’s, early Church councils, etc. here. They are simply held to account to scripture.
3] 2. And because directly after the times of the apostles, and even while they were still living, false teachers and heretics arose, and symbols, i. e., brief, succinct [categorical] confessions, were composed against them in the early Church, which were regarded as the unanimous, universal Christian faith and confession of the orthodox and true Church, namely, the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed, we pledge ourselves to them, and hereby reject all heresies and dogmas which, contrary to them, have been introduced into the Church of God.
We pledge ourselves to the Creeds, but even they are not at the level of scripture. That said, there is a recognition of the role of the Church to set doctrine and dogma, to teach. In terms of doctrine, I don’t practice sola scriptura, the Lutheran Church does.
The “sola” in sola scriptura is that scripture is sole norm that norms all other writings. There is a difference between holding dogmas and teachers accountable to scripture, and excluding them entirely.
So, for the New Advent piece:
Sola scriptura (“Bible alone”)
The [first] objective [or formal] principle proclaims the canonical Scriptures, especially the New Testament, to be the only infallible source and rule of faith and practice,
Close.
and asserts the right of private interpretation of the same,
Not in terms of doctrine, not for Lutherans. For example, my pastor (nor I) can profess via private interpretation, a symbolic presence regarding the Eucharist. The doctrine of the Lutheran Church is the real presence.
We do, however, practice individual interpretation regarding adiaphora, things indifferent. For example, since belief in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is not an article of faith, I can either believe it or not. I happen to, in a general way, believe it.
in distinction from the Roman Catholic view, which declares the Bible and tradition to be co-ordinate sources and rule of faith, and makes tradition, especially the decrees of popes and councils, the only legitimate and infallible interpreter of the Bible
The disdinction is clearly stated. Catholics hold scripture and Tradition to be equal sources. We hold Tradtion to be secondary to scripture.
In its extreme form Chillingworth expressed this principle of the Reformation in the well-known formula, “The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, is the religion of Protestants.” .
Irrelevent to Lutherans. We, too, reject this.
Protestantism, however, by no means despises or rejects church authority as such, but only subordinates it to, and measures its value by, the Bible, and believes in a progressive interpretation of the Bible through the expanding and deepening consciousness of Christendom. Hence, besides having its own symbols or standards of public doctrine, it retained all the articles of the ancient creeds and a large amount of disciplinary and ritual tradition, and rejected only those doctrines and ceremonies for which no clear warrant was found in the Bible and which seemed to contradict its letter or spirit
OK.
The Calvinistic branches of Protestantism went farther in their antagonism to the received traditions than the Lutheran and the Anglican; but all united in rejecting the authority of the pope. [Melanchthon for a while was willing to concede this, but only jure humano, or a limited disciplinary superintendency of the Church],
I believe they are, in part referring to Melanchthon’s
Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, which you can read.
bookofconcord.org/treatise.php It does have some polemics, but the main points are early on.
the meritoriousness of good works, indulgences, the worship of the Virgin, saints, and relics, the sacraments (other than baptism and the Eucharist), the dogma of transubstantiation and the Sacrifice of the Mass, purgatory, and prayers for the dead, auricular confession, celibacy of the clergy, the monastic system, and the use of the Latin tongue in public worship, for which the vernacular languages were substituted.
Not exactly accurate for Lutherans. While not nearly enough practiced, we retain auricular confession, and Lutherans can pray for the dead.
Jon
